Pseudouridylation at position 32 of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs requires two distinct enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

J Biol Chem. 2004 Dec 17;279(51):52998-3006. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M409581200. Epub 2004 Oct 4.

Abstract

Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs contain several pseudouridylation sites, and the tRNA:Psi-synthase acting at position 32 had not been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By combining genetic and biochemical analyses, we demonstrate that two enzymes, Rib2/Pus8p and Pus9p, are required for Psi32 formation in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs, respectively. Pus9p acts mostly in mitochondria, and Rib2/Pus8p is strictly cytoplasmic. This is the first case reported so far of two distinct tRNA modification enzymes acting at the same position but present in two different compartments. This peculiarity may be the consequence of a gene fusion that occurred during yeast evolution. Indeed, Rib2/Pus8p displays two distinct catalytic activities involved in completely unrelated metabolism: its C-terminal domain has a DRAP-deaminase activity required for riboflavin biogenesis in the cytoplasm, whereas its N-terminal domain carries the tRNA:Psi32-synthase activity. Pus9p has only a tRNA:Psi32-synthase activity and contains a characteristic mitochondrial targeting sequence at its N terminus. These results are discussed in terms of RNA:Psi-synthase evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Aminohydrolases / chemistry
  • Aminohydrolases / physiology*
  • Aspartic Acid / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Cell-Free System
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Deletion
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Intramolecular Transferases / chemistry
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry*
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Uridine / chemistry*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid
  • RNA
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Aminohydrolases
  • RIB2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Intramolecular Transferases
  • PUS9 protein, S cerevisiae
  • pseudouridine synthases
  • Uridine